Newborn baby pulled alive from latrine

A woman dresses up the newborn baby after he was pulled from a pit latrine in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, on June 28, 2017. PHOTO | OSCAR KAKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The baby’s cries at night attracted neighbours, who managed to rescue the child.
  • Ms Maria Chepterit is said to given birth unassisted around 2 am.

A fuel station attendant has admitted in a Kapenguria court that she dumped her newborn baby in a latrine.

The one-day-old baby was pulled out alive from the outdoor toilet on Wednesday in Murkwijit village, Kapenguria constituency in West Pokot County.

Neighbours rescued the boy after they heard his cries in the night.

Maria Chepterit is said to have given birth unassisted at around 2am on Wednesday and dumped the baby in the latrine afterward.

Maria Chepterit at the Kapenguria Law Courts on June 29, 2017 where she was charged with concealing a birth after dumping her newborn baby in a pit latrine. PHOTO | OSCAR KAKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The boy was cleaned up by his rescuers and taken to Kapenguria County Hospital.

On Thursday, Ms Chepterit was charged with concealing a birth contrary to Section 227 of the Penal Code.

She pleaded guilty before Resident Magistrate Phoebe Kulecho and asked for leniency.

The mother of four said she committed the act after quarrelling with her husband, who had claimed that he was not responsible for the pregnancy.

She will remain in custody awaiting sentencing.